Blazer's Edge

Mirin Fader, writer for Bleach Report, joins the Women’s Hoops and Talks podcast to talk about her experiences covering a variety of interesting people. From observing LaMelo Ball in cold and lonely Lithuania, to hanging out in a basement with the close-knit Antetokounmpo brothers, to comparing lip gloss with the Las Vegas Aces’ Liz Cambage, Fader has immersed herself in the lives of the people she profiles to bring us their unique and compelling stories. We learn what it takes to get to the heart of the stories she tells. What drives her to keep going even when things are going wrong? What is interesting about covering young players at the beginning of their careers? What is different about covering men and women? Why doesn't she like to put herself into the story? From Trail Blazer rookie Nassir Little to Trail Blazer arch nemesis Bill Laimbeer, we covered so much in this conversation. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Ca

One thing that we know about the upcoming Portland Trail Blazers’ season is that lineups will be different. They are looking to add another backup big man. They have new shooters. They need more facilitators. On this episode we look at who will make up for the assists that the departing players used to get each game. Can Hassan Whiteside learn to facilitate more? Will Zach Collins step into that role? Will Mario Hezonja the point-forward be released? Then we talk to Daniel Hardee from goldenstateofmind.com about the new-look Golden State Warriors. Which of the many changes will be most impactful? How will the basketball change? Why are they retiring Kevin Durant’s number? All this and more on the latest episode of the Blazers Edge podcast. Follow on Twitter: @blazersedge, @tcbbiggs, @dmarang, @DHardee_SBN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara and Cassidy are back on the WHAT podcast to go over the latest Blazers rumors including which back-up centers could be on their way and will LaMarcus Aldridge ever return to Portland? Then they wonder about all the new “Super Duos” in the league--how will we which ones are most effective and where do Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum fit in among the best? Finally, Tara interviews Alexis Musante of TEAM, Tech Exposure & Access through Mentoring, an Oakland-based non-profit that exposes high school students to tech related sports careers. Musante, a former college athlete, didn’t necessarily know what she wanted to do after her athletic career was over. But she found a calling in helping kids learn more about exciting careers in the industry all while honing their science, technology, engineering and math skills. Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. Learn more about TEAM: @weareteaminc and https://www.weareteaminc.org/about Women’

We wrap up the Trail Blazers’ 2019 Summer League run by reminiscing about Thomas Robinson, talking about the optimism that is fueling Pelicans fans, and discussing whether Anfernee Simons is ready to drive the Blazers second unit. We also get philosophical and talk about younger stars who teams are building around and older vets searching for a spot in the league. Between the boys of summer and the veterans still looking for teams are we witnessing a generational shift in the NBA?  Then they listen to Tara’s interview with Harrison Faigen (@hmfaigen) of Silver Screen and Roll to learn more about the Lakers’ summer and discuss how the Blazers will stack up against them. Finally, we wrap up with some odds and ends, asking how likely will it be to see the Blazers push more in transition, and a short report on what Hassan Whiteside’s assists look like (hint: no bounce passes).  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get to know more about the newest Trail Blazers, Kent Bazemore, Hassan Whiteside, Mario Hezonja and Anthony Tolliver by hearing from writers who covered them. Gain insight into their skills, preferred positions and what they will bring to the locker room. Tara talked to Jeff Siegel of Peachtree Hoops, Nekias from 5 Reasons Sports Network, Preston Ellis of Orlando Pinstriped Post, and Brady Klopfer of Golden State of Mind to hear more about what expectations were for these players and how they did (or did not) meet them. @jgsiegel, @NekiasNBA, @PrestonEllis, @BradyKlopferNBA, Subscribe to Blazer's Edge on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Steve DeWald, Miles Custis and Tara Bowen-Biggs share observations about the first two Trail Blazers' games at Las Vegas Summer League. 1:00 Miles’ earthquake report and first impressions of Summer League.2:30 Overall impressions of Game 1 against the Detroit Pistons. Communication was rough and that made it difficult to get any rhythm. 4:00 Some of the younger guys like Little and Hoard are still learning the NBA vocabulary. 5:00 There was a night and day difference between the first and second games. It helped that the shots were falling (and the competition was pretty undersized).7:35 How much will the Blazers be looking to Anfernee Simons for playmaking? What can he work on to be more effective in regular season games?10:00 Simons’ defense is looking good, especially down low. 12:00 The Gary Trent Jr game. Trent went off shooting wise in the game against Houston, he was lights out from three and also able to get to the rim. He stayed in the zone without being a ball hog. He was willing to pass when he was

Danny returns with exciting personal news and then we step through all of the Blazers’ off season moves. The new-look team will have plenty of interesting new storylines. How much will the Blazers miss the departing players, how will the new players fit into the basketball schemes? And what impact will they make in the locker room? Say “goodbye” to old friends and solid screens, “hello” to more trash talk, more corner threes, and more dunks. Plus, bonus audio of Danny and Tara responding to the big news of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to the Clippers. Follow us on Twitter: @dmarang, @tcbbiggs, @blazersedge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s a special bonus edition of the Blazers Edge Podcast featuring Team Mom aka Tara Bowen-Biggs, Hoops and Talks co-host Cassidy Gemmet, and Blazer’s Edge writers Nate Mann and Isaiah De Los Santos. They talk about the Trail Blazers big trade for Hassan Whiteside, how he might fit in, what his game is like compared to Jusuf Nurkic, and wonder if locker room chemistry might be tested? Then they discuss what impact Mario Hezonja and Anthony Tolliver might have on the team. What position does Hezonja play? Why hasn’t Tolliver stayed with any team more than a few seasons over the course of his career? We are excited for all the changes but still trying to figure out exactly what they mean. Join us as we explore the new roster. Follow us on twitter:@BlazersEdge @tcbbiggs,  @nate_mann13 @IsaiahDeLos, @cassidyGemmet Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blazers-edge/id949238542 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Blazer’s Edge editor Steve Dewald joins Tara hours after the start of NBA Free Agency to break down what has happened with the Portland Trail Blazers. . . so far. We talk about the newest additions, Kent Bazemore and Mario Hesonja, discuss hopes and dreams for a successful Rodney Hood season and speculate what gaps they will need to fill (rebounds anyone?) We also look at some of the big moves other teams have made, especially the ones that are (thankfully) taking place out east, like the Brooklyn Nets landing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, and the move that has Jimmy Butler heading to the Miami Heat. Follow us on twitter:@BlazersEdge @tcbbiggs @SteveDHoops Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blazers-edge/id949238542 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the smartest people we know, @britrobotista, joined us this week to walk us through the basics and the nitty gritty of free agency lingo.  1:00 Icebreaker: If you suddenly were living in a new city, like many NBA players will be over the next few months, what would be the first thing you’d try and find? 3:00 Awards Season. Highlights of the NBA Awards show. We think they should include playoff awards too if they are going to be so late. Bill Walton is just that uncle. 4:30 From the perspective of a Rockets fan, was it a snub that Harden didn’t win? 6:00 The Hustle Award, won by Marcus Smart, appears to actually have a rubric, as it is based off of the Hustle stats measured on stats.nba.com. 8:00 Tara thinks Masai Ujuri was snubbed! But Brit has a good point about John Horst because he made a lot of important small moves that caused a huge impact, like bringing in Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe. 10:00 Evan Turner and Kent Bazemore trade. Will Kent Bazemore be a better fit for the Portland system? He w

Blazers Edge writer Eric Griffith joins the weekly podcast to talk about the newest Trail Blazer, Nassir Little, and prepare for the upcoming NBA free agency period. How will we know if this is a successful off season? What are reasonable expectations for the Blazers given their needs and their constraints? We break it all down before winding it up with a discussion about how would Kevin Love fit in on the Trail Blazers? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara and Cassidy are joined by Kim Waara (@KDubinThisClub) to talk through the latest off season news and rumors. Are the Celtics in trouble? Is Kyrie headed to the Brooklyn Nets? Is Kawhi headed for the limelight in LA? Then we tried to figure out what the Trail Blazer’s summer theme songs should be. Is Damian Lillard under pressure? Is everybody ready to go on the road again with Maurice Harkless, Al Farouq Aminu and Evan Turner? Will the Summer League team run it up or run it back to defend their championship? We dove into Youtube and created a playlist to kick off the summer madness. What would you add to the list? NBA Off Season Playlist Vol 1 on Youtube Get Social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @kdubinthisclub Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "H

Mike Prada, Ben Epstein and Ricky O’Donnell host a recap of this year’s SB Nation NBA Bloggers’ Mock Draft. In addition to going through the picks that were made and discussing fits of certain prospects on certain teams, the guys also talked with Sabreena Merchant (18:20) about the Lakers’ trade for Anthony Davis and the Clippers’ free agent aspirations. Later, they welcome Joe Mullinax (29:00) to talk about the Grizzlies trading away Mike Conley and why Ja Morant is a perfect fit for Memphis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Blazers Edge writer and editor Isaiah De Los Santos joins the podcast to help us sort out the western conference as we head into the first big event of the NBA off season--the 2019 Draft. But wait! First we have to discuss the Anthony Davis trade to the Los Angeles Lakers. Did the Pelicans come out on top with all of their future draft picks? Will two super stars be enough for the Lakers? Will they sign Kemba Walker to complete their reset? And how are they going to fill out the rest of the roster? Then we try to read the tea leaves to predict what the Trail Blazers will do on draft night. Is this draft different than others? What characterizes the players in this draft? And how do teams evaluate talent when more positionless players are coming along each year? Finally we do our best to figure out which teams in the west are contenders. There is a lot going on and many moving parts but what is certain is that nothing will be the same. Listen to us try and figure it out and let us know what you think. Find Isa

Sharon Brown, freelance writer and founding editor of All Heart in Hoop City, joins Tara and Cassidy to talk about her article These Are the Women Creating Some of the NBA's Most Memorable Social Media Content. We talk about some of her favorite pieces she has written and how and why NBA fans should support black women in the media. Finally we touch on what it is like for a long time Grizzlies fan to watch Marc Gasol playing in the finals and what the outlook is for the Grizzlies is next season. Get Social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @sharonshybrown Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adcho

The off season is underway and we’re waiting to see what the Trail Blazers will do. Will they make a trade to get off of one of their larger contracts? Will they slide under the tax line to unlock the full MLE? Will they go all in to trade for a disgruntled super star? Or will they make moves around the edges to shore up their roster leading into next season?  Tara and Dan are joined by Mike Richman (@mikegrich) of NBC Sports Northwest and the Locked On podcast to talk all about what is coming up next for the Trail Blazers.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

KOIN 6 Television sports reporter AJ McCord joined the WHAT podcast to talk about covering the Trail Blazers for the local media. We learn more about the supportive women who work covering the Blazers and other NBA teams, and why she thinks so many women excel as sideline reporters. What was it like coming back from the low of the New Orleans sweep to watch the players redouble their efforts and advance all the way to the Western Conference Finals? Then she talks about getting to know the players over the course of the year and how the young guys are learning the ropes. All this and more on the latest WHAT podcast. Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @AJ_McCord Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Cr

Blazer’s Edge writer and editor Lindesay H (@corvallisonian) joins the WHAT podcast to wrap up the 2018-19 Portland Trail Blazers season. What was the best game? Who had the best individual performance? Who was most improved? Which player was the most reliable off the bench? From Nik Stauskas on opening night to Anfernee Simons in the last game of the season, from Moe Harkless finding his groove to Jusuf Nurkic’s New Years Day 5X5, we share all of our favorite moments and most memorable performances. Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @corvallisonian Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Just in time for the WNBA's opening night, Tara and Cassidy talked to Arielle Chambers of Bleacher Report/House of Highlights for a primer on the upcoming season. The WNBA attracts the best of the best and we found out which players to watch for and why. With so much talent spread throughout the league, more parity than they've seen in ages, and players with big personalities, this looks like it is going to be an exciting year.   Chambers walked us through the major story lines people are keeping an eye on including how injuries to big stars like Breanna Stewart, Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi will lead to opportunities for new players to break out. We also talked about teams to keep an eye on including the Las Angeles Sparks, the Atlanta Dream and the Las Vegas Aces whose new center Liz Cambage will be coached by Detroit Bad Boy Bill Laimbeer.   We also talked about challenges that the league faces, why popularity is growing, and what fans can do to help the league grow even more. If you're anything like us, y

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